KENNY, ALAN AND MORE REACT TO CMA NODS

Kenny Chesney credited the fans for his four CMA Award nominations, while Alan Jackson felt slightly self-conscious about his two CMA nods.

“To be honest, those fans are the reason we’re nominated for Entertainer of the Year,” said Kenny, who’s also up for Male Vocalist, Album [The Road and the Radio] and Single of the Year for “Summertime.” Kenny added, “They just keep raising the bar and making me and the guys wanna be better.” Alan, who has the most career CMA nominations with 74, admitted that, “They’re always flattering, and I think in my case they’ve been a little embarrassing because I just feel bad. I’ve won so many and I see so many new acts come along that have done so great . . . and I feel bad for some of them not winning.”

Carrie Underwood led all female artists with four CMA nods, and the elated singer said, “This is my first time to be nominated for the CMA Awards, so to be recognized for four is a big surprise and an amazing honor!” Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, a nominee in the Vocal Group and Horizon categories, told Country Weekly, “We have had our struggles, so hopefully what we have been through can be encouraging to other artists.”